City’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could end in failure despite a willingness at the Etihad to pay a huge fee for the 26-year-old Gabon striker.

According to BILD, Pep Guardiola is willing to throw €70 million (£55 million) at Borussia Dortmund to sign a player he rates highly.

Having already lost İlkay Gündoğan (to City) and Mats Hummels (to Bayern Munich), though, Borussia Dortmund have drawn a line and don’t want to cede any more of their big names. Not only are they determined to hang on to Aubameyang, but plan to ward off an assault from Manchester United for contract rebel Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

If they are able to keep Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan, while using the Hummels and Gündoğan money to strengthen the squad, BVB are hopeful of challenging Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title next season. But the Manchester clubs are knocking and may not go away quietly…